Agreement signed by Teacher Unions for deduction of only GH¢100 from Professional Allowance

Coverghana.com.gh has intercepted a document indicating the agreement signed by Teacher Unions for the deduction of the Professional Development Allowance at source as NTC’s License Fee.

According to the document signed by three Teacher Unions thus: the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT-GH), only GH¢100 is supposed to be deducted from the Teachers’ Professional Development Allowance in 2020.

The statement means that, Teacher Unions negotiated for a deduction of only GH¢100 for the National Teaching Council (NTC) to issue license to all In-service teachers which will be renewed after three (3) year of issuance.

The press statement dated 7th June, 2020 as signed by Thomas Tanko Musah of GNAT, Eric A. Carbonu of NAGRAT and King Ali Awudu of CCT-GH said, preparing Teachers for quality education in Ghana requires policies and practices which make teaching an attractive profession.

According to the Union leaders, this can only happen if the teaching profession is governed by policies that raise the profile and status of teachers to attract the highest calibre of candidates. The demands of education for the 21st Century Ghana, requires a teacher that is adequately prepared, motivated and working under conducive conditions to be able to assure quality education.

AGREEMENT ON PAYMENT OF GH¢1,200 AS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALLOWANCE FOR TEACHERS

The statement again said, pursuant to the above and in the light of the concluded negotiation between the Teacher Unions and Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, GES and Ministry of Finance, and subsequent to the approval of one thousand two hundred Ghana cedis (GH¢1,200) professional allowance for every (professional) teacher, and six hundred Ghana cedis (GH¢ 600) for every (non-professional) teacher as continuous professional development support allowance by the Ministry of Education, effective this year (2020)

AGREEMENT ON DEDUCTION OF GH¢100

The National Teaching Council (NTC), following a meeting with the Pre-tertiary Education Unions and relevant bodies, has decided that In-Service teachers would pay a hundred Ghana cedis (GH¢100) each, for the licensure, meant to license in-service teachers across the country.

The statement has further asked the teachers to be informed that, the said one hundred Ghana cedis (GH¢100) would be deducted from the one thousand two hundred Ghana cedis (GH¢1,200) professional allowance, at source, while the licence would be renewable, every three years.

The press statement issued by the teacher unions

DEDUCTION OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALLOWANCE FOR THE 2018 BATCH OF TRAINED TEACHERS

It has been confirmed that, the 2018 batch of trained teachers who sat for the maiden Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE) in 2018 has paid GH¢220 for the examination and issuance of the NTC’s license. Unfortunately, the GH¢100 deduction made in 2020 also affected the 2018 batch of teachers who have already paid for the said amount in 2018 prior to the Examination.

The teachers complianed bitterly about the double deduction but their agitations fell on death ears.

AFTERMATH OF 2020 DEDUCTION FROM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALLOWANCE MEANT FOR NTC LICENSE

Information picked by Coverghana.com.gh confirmed that, barely a year now after the first GH¢100 deduction was made, most teachers have not received the said license, except a few.

According to the aggreived teachers, last year, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) deducted GH¢100 from the Teachers’ Professional Development Allowance paid in November 2020 as NTC License Fees.

But, as November 2021 validation is in, allocation has been made for the deduction of same amount of money (GH¢100.00) which was deducted already in 2020 from the Professional Development Allowance meant for teachers.

RENEWAL OF NTC’S LICENSE

According to the National Teaching Council’s framework, the license, when issued will be valid for three (3) years before renewal takes place.

The teachers said, with reference to the November 2021 validation, the said deduction is expected to take effect. This means that, they will pay twice for the controversial license they have not received from NTC.

The teachers are calling on all powers be to immediately address the issue.

Find attached, a photo of the confirmation of the GH¢100 deduction as captured on the November 2021 validation.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh